The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-05

DOCS you bD'nN sAS'A $3.50 - =
we'ups. pappyF
oval. no. honey Them thar raiders is mostly
-Abs. and haint got my parole from Vicksburg
ter show es thur side7 Then. ef the
Yanks come along can't tell EN- yer brother Tip
is with Gineral Burnside at Knoxvile"
"Pappy, what eff they was ter kerry you off"
s.S by, Nancy, you're too much Of a child ter
hester yerself along of what haint s-goin' ter
happen
"val, pap, Jest can't hope worryin! Belts
Ann Rucker, she says thar's a passed. of them
thar Farmin county felIers down on the plains
lest a ra'arin' and a Robin. And Belts Ann,
she lows we'uns had better lie out ter-night."
Belts Ann hewitt GOT nary bit OF sense" ex-
claimed Tip Padgett impatiently. "ter be
skeerin' of gal like you, Nancy. Now. you jest
scufie roun' and git supper, and Ill go downd
ter the Laurel and milk the cow. Ell hedn't
that thar parole these yer raiders would have
taken that thar critter off afore now"
Tip picked rp a large gourd and disappeared
down a winding trail leading to secluded hol-
low where he had hidden their only COW. He
was a round -shouldered. Grizzled man of fifty.
who. with a twelve-year-old daughter, had lived
In little cabin at the foot of the Great Wa
cheesa Bald" since his return from Vicksburg on
parole. His only son. Tip, junior, was in the
federal army, impellsd to enlistment by pow
erty and the generous, bounty offered for new
recruits.
Nancy watched her,father's receding form
while her lips tremb1ed. In these troubled
times the mountaineers isolated themselves
from strangers, and even from each other.
Bands of traders" preyed on them, irrespective
of party, aud no one knew whether his neighbor
would not secretly report him as an obnoxious
cid he thar
reign Of terror, enforced by the rope. the bullet
and the torch.
In their lonely dependence upon each other
Nancy's father was doubly dear TO her. He
the only human being,who cared for, and shell
tered and loved her. Hsr mother died wnen she
was a babe, and her brother had always been too
wild rude and indifferent to inspire much sister
ly regard. Her shy, sensitive heart had there,
fore joined it's wealth of affection upon poor old
Tip, who, as he expressed 1t. was alays turnin'
and projectin' round to keep that thar gal from
starvin."
brisk fire was burning in the fireplace So
Nancy at length went in, sifted the meal made
up the dough- patted the pones in shape, placed
Goals around the oven and put on water for the
rye coffee.
Outside the sun was sinking behind the dis
tant Chillowees bathing their SUBMITS in amber.
Over the Tellico plains long shadows were creep
Ing wrapping the cornfields and the hllsides In
grey reflections of approaching twilight. Be-
hind the little cabin, long ridges wound inter
minably upward until, amid cioud-capped and
precipitous slopes, the oval summit OF the Great
Bald lowered toward the eastern heavens. To
Nancy's youthful conceptions these exalted
aerial regions were the abode OF all things
strange and wonderful in her little world. It
was a place where fog. and storm, and sunshine,
and starlight seemed TO be born, and to reign as
from a throne over the familiar localities far be-
low their inaccessible splendor.
The kettle began to sing. and soon the sizzling
noise of frying meat was audible. Nancy. with
flied by these appetizing sounds, did not
- IL Is hOnfa nFufn fho
road, n or see the approaching squad OF armed
men who halted before the house. One of them
dismounted. advanced to the door. and peered
in, saying, in cruff tones:
..Hyre! We sis. Whur mout yer pap be about
Nancy dropped the bread she was taking up
The dreaded raiders were here at last, and they
wanted-her father The leader turned and
said to his followers:
Cit down, boys. One on We stay with the
horses and some ye lie out around, and the
rest come IN. We'uns mebbe ill git some sup
per es well es what else we come after"
The men. dozen or more in number dis
Several quietly disappeared in the
woods around the honse. Others followed the
leader inside. Tho latter was tall, muscular
young man, of decided manners with keen,
dark eyes handsome, resolute features and
brigandish curls that touched his shoulders. Both
gray and blue uniforms were indiscriminately
worn, 50 that, from their appearance one could
not tell which side they represented
Now. sissy" said the captain, ''git your Wit
ties ready, for weuns air powerful hungry. Eth!
boysl"
the "boys" laughed while Nancy dumb with
terror. strove to obey Though sheer lack of
knowing what else to do. About this time Tip
appeared, guarded by two men with heavy
swords clanking they walked.
''Evenin boys!" said he, with an uneasy at
tempt at frendliuess. -"Thar's bit of supper
and yers some milk Nancy kin cook more
make a beginnin."
Your name is Tip Padgettl7 said the captain.
ignoring the invitation. despite his former sug-
Zestions.
WAL yes-that is"
Il thought so. Tie his hands, boys
Look hyur. captin," exclaimed Tip, as his
hands were deftly seized and tied.
'Shet up! You sarved in the confederit army
Ind then went over to the Yanks.p
mo, no. captin. That thar,s wrong. My son
Tip he lined the Yankees, but l."
Here. CAL" said the leader, lead him with
hish yer rope. Now. Padgett. eff you jist cheep
.nuthsr word I'll hev ye gagged We're after
ieserters and reResades, and thish ger paper
describes We prezactly."
The men had remounted. The supper re-
NAMED untasted Tip stood with a long rope
.ound his waist and the other end tied to the
of one OF his captor&- The captain had
lis foot in the stirrup, when Nancy broke Ter
ong silence with piteouscry. She clasped her
arms round her father and pleaded with the SOL
sOh, captain. Don't We take him off'n hyur
lie hewitt done nothin'. Pap wouldn't hurt
lea. would ye, papF' III
They were moving on. The captain at last
aid to her:
Now git back. sis. we'uns II soon git done
with yer pap Go and hev yer supper ready
.rin he comes back"
But she chung TO her father till he, per- |
,lexed, bade her return, though he feared the |
worst for himself. So they left her sobbing at
he gate. AS they passed round spur of the |
he bound and helpless looked back; |
md so. with sear-dimmed eyes, they looked their
asst upon each other in this life.
The next day his body, pierced by bullets, was
'ound by neighbors the roadside a mile or two |
further on. and little Nancy Padgett was left
orphan, alone
THE FIRST OF NAY IN THE MOUNTAINS.
The chestnuts. oaks. popiars and hickories |
everywhere donning the green .of their new
nantles The long slopes striped here and /
there by the darker garb of pine and fir Fresh |
nnes enlivening the raoss and lichens on cliff |
and bowlder and delicate young ferns upspring
ing everywhere.
On tine Chilhowees rests the fragment of n
edged with sullen gray. that
mels into pale silver it disappears in the blue
zenith above, where the sun floats, bewilder-